Andante religioso

Hugo Becker was a notable cellist and teacher: born in Strasbourg on 13.2.1863, he died in Geiselgasteig near Munich on 30.7.1941. He started cello lessons with his father Jean Becker and was later taught by A. Piatti, J. de Swert and F. Grützmacher. Becker was initially employed as a cellist at the Mannheim National Theatre and then as principal cellist in the opera orchestra in Frankfurt am Main (1884–1886). From 1887–1906 he taught cello at the Hoch Conservatoire in Frankfurt, from 1909–1929 as a professor at the Academy of Music in Berlin. His book on the Mechanics and Aesthetics of Playing the Cello (Berlin 1929) deals with the physiological principles of cello playing and is still worth reading today. Schott published Becker’s Cello Concerto in A major op. 10 as well as some short character pieces. Andante religioso op. 2 is in three sections (A-B-A) with a lyrical A section and a faster rhythmic middle section. It was published by Schott in 1887 as plate number 24419.